Mrs. Harper, a native of Jeff Davis County, was the daughter of the late Alex Duke and the late Leona Kitchens Duke. She was the widow of the late Bernie Harper, was a retired employee of the Wax Finishing Department of PCC, a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Group, and the Douglas Senior Citizens Group, and a member of First Congregational Christian Church.

Survivors include: one son, Charlie Bennett and wife, Tammy, of Douglas, Ga.; one daughter, Brenda Merchant of Douglas, Ga.; three grandchildren, Shellie Merchant Davis, Crystal Merchant, and John Elec Bennett, all of Douglas, Ga.; one great-grandson, Jake Davis of Douglas, Ga.; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 20, 2004, at First Congregational Christian Church, with Rev. Matt Rutland officiating. Special musical selections, "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder" and "Victory In Jesus," were presented as congregational hymns, led by Rev. Matt Rutland, with pianist, Margaret Deal, accompanying. Interment followed in the Denton Cemetery in Jeff Davis County, Ga.

Mrs. Youmans, a native of Coffee County, was the daughter of the late James Samuel Whitley and the late Gertrude Lankford Whitley.

She was the widow of the late Hunter Kirkland, a member of the Darien Church of God, and was a retired employee of Morrison's Cafeteria.

Survivors include: one daughter, Dorothy Fite of Hendersonville, N.C.; three sons, Jimmy Kirkland and Ronnie Kirkland, both of Darien, Ga., and Jerry Kirkland of Jesup, Ga.; three sisters, Sue Jones of Jacksonville, Fla., Erma Wallace of Brunswick, Ga., and Ruby Harper of Daytona, Fla.; two brothers, Gerald Whitley of Jacksonville, Fla., and William Whitley of Nicholls, Ga.; four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, May 24, 2004, at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home, with Rev. Ben Jones and Rev. Tommy Whaley officiating. Special music selections, "Amazing Grace" and "Mama, You're Missed," were presented by soloist and guitarist, Rev. Tommy Whaley. Soft piano music for the prelude and postlude were presented by Phyllis V. Ricketson. Interment followed in the Harrell Grove Cemetery.

Mrs. Fryer, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born October 22, 1957, the daughter of the late Louis Peterson. She was well known around the community as the neighborhood baby sitter. She has raised many children. Her love and memories will live forever in the hearts of all who knew her.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 16, 2004, at Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Broxton, Ga., with Elder Sid Whitfield officiating. Interment followed at the Broxton City Cemetery in Broxton, Ga.

McIver Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Tanner, a native of Catoosa County, Ga., was born May 29, 1914, the daughter of C.H. and Blanche Black Williams. She was the widow of the late William L. (Dodger) Tanner, a homemaker, and a member of Kirkland United Methodist Church.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 22, 2004, at the Kirkland United Methodist Church, with Rev. Rodney Carter and Rev. Eddie Morrison officiating. Special music included "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace" rendered by the attending congregation. Soft music for the prelude and postlude was provided by tape. Interment followed in the Willacoochee City Cemetery.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 15, 004, at Austin Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Waycross, Ga., with Rev. Dr. Alfort Belin, Jr., officiating. Interment followed at the Evergreen Cemetery in Fitzgerald, Ga.

Active pallbearers were the officers of the Men of the Austin Chapel Family.

McIver Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Miguel Angel Cruz

Mr. Miguel Angel Cruz, 29, of Axson, Ga., passed away Sunday, May 16, 2004, as a result of a drowning accident in Atkinson County, Ga.

Mr. Cruz, a native of Mexico, was born September 29, 1974, the son of Armado and Delores Abreo Cruz. He was a container manufacturer inspector.

Survivors include: a special friend, Maria del Rosario Gonzales of Axson Ga.; one son, Emanuel Cruz of Axson, Ga.; two daughters, Jacqueline Cruz and Yvonne Cruz, both of Axson, Ga.; his parents, Armando Cruz and Delores Abreo of Mexico; three sisters, Rufina Cruz of Mexico, Felisa Cruz of California, and Victoria Cruz of Axson, Ga.; and two brothers, Martin Cruz and Jose Cruz, both of Mexico.

Funeral services were held Sunday, May 23, 2004, at 4 p.m. at Pearson Elementary School, with Rev. Margarito Perez officiating. Special music was provided by Abimael Castillo and Rev. Victor Mendoza. Interment followed in the Stokesville Church Cemetery in Atkinson County, Ga.

Mr. Alberto Castillo, 33, of Axson, Ga., passed away Sunday, May 16, 2004, as a result of a drowning accident in Atkinson County, Ga.

Mr. Castillo, a native of Mexico, was born August 7, 1970, the son of Venancio and Felisa Chavez Castillo. He was employed with a poultry processing plant.

Survivors include: his wife, Victoria Cruz Castillo of Axson, Ga.; two daughters, Laura Castillo and Ester Castillo, both of Pearson, Ga.; and his parents, Venancio Castillo and Felisa Chavez of Mexico.

Funeral services were held Sunday,(May 23, 2004, at 4 p.m., at Pearson Elementary School, with Rev. Margarito Perez officiating. Special music was provided by Abimael Castillo and Rev. Victor Mendoza. Interment followed in the Stokesville Church Cemetery in Atkinson County, Ga.

Master Alonzo Cruz Castillo, 12, of Axson, Ga., passed away Sunday, May 16, 2004, as a result of a drowning accident in Atkinson County, Ga.

Mr. Castillo, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born November 11, 1991, the son of Victoria Cruz Castillo and the late Alberto Castillo. He was a student at Atkinson County School.

Survivors include: his mother, Victoria Cruz Castillo of Axson, Ga.; two sisters, Laura Castillo and Ester Castillo, both of Pearson, Ga.; and grandparents, Armado Cruz and Delores Abreo and Venancio Castillo and Felisa Chavez, all of Mexico.

Funeral services were held Sunday, May 23, 2004, at 4 p.m., at Pearson Elementary School, with Rev. Margarito Perez officiating. Special music was provided by Abimael Castillo and Rev. Victor Mendoza. Interment followed in the Stokesville Church Cemetery in Atkinson County, Ga.

Mrs. McClelland, a native of Brooks County, had lived in the Douglas and Coffee County area for most of her life. She was the daughter of the late Tillman R. Garbett and the late Faye Tine Finch Garbett, the widow of the late Leonard Arley McClelland, and a member of the Rocky Pond Baptist Church.

Survivors include: three daughters, Geraldine Johnson of Hilliard, Fla., and Brenda Tyler and Peggy Kibbey, both of Douglas, Ga.; three sons, James L. McClelland, Alexander G. McClelland, and Leon R. McClelland, all of Douglas, Ga.; 17 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, numerous step grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 22, 2004, at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home, with Rev. Larry Stone, Rev. George Kratochvil, Mr. Curtis Harper, and Rev. T. L. Adams officiating. Special musical selections, "Take My Hand" and "It Is Well," were presented by grandchildren, with Rudy Johnson, Jr., accompanying on the guitar. "I Can Only Imagine" was presented by tape. Interment followed in the Carver Cemetery, with Rev. Olem Bennett presenting the graveside rites.

Mrs. Girtman, a native and lifelong resident of Coffee County, was the daughter of the late D. Allanson Day and the late Mattie Mae Duncan Day. She and her late husband, Clyde Lee Girtman, operated Girtman's Texaco Service Station for many years. Mrs. Girtman was a retired bookkeeper, a member of the Graduation Class of Broxton in 1942, and a member of First Congregational Christian Church.

Survivors include: one daughter, Davene Girtman Winslow of Douglas, Ga.; two grandsons, Benjamin Girtman Winslow and Matthew Day Winslow, both of Valdosta, Ga.; two nieces, two nephews, and other relatives.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m., Monday, May 24, 2004, at the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home, with Rev. J.B. Ware and Father Daniel O'Connell officiating. Special musical selections, "He Touched Me" and "What A Day That Will Be," were presented by Harold Vickers, with pianist Judy Foskey accompanying. Interment followed in the Reedy Branch Cemetery.

Members of the Graduation Class of Broxton, 1942, served as honorary pallbearers.

Ricketson Funeral Home of Douglas, Ga., was in charge of the arrangements.

Ella Mae Harris

Mrs. Ella Mae Harris, 95, of Broxton, Ga., passed away.

Mrs. Harris was born October 10, 1910, the daughter of the late Mary T. Gamble and Sam Gamble. She was the widow of the late Otis Harris and a member of Freewill Baptist Church in Broxton, Ga., where she was a Sunday School teacher, secretary, and treasurer.

Survivors include: one daughter-in-law, Kathleen Harris of Dublin, Ga.; seven grandsons, Adrian Harris of Dublin, Ga., Byron Harris of Glendale, Md., Cedric Harris of New York City, N.Y., Derrick Harris of Atlanta, Ga., Samuel Harris of Germany, Robert Ryals Harris of Broxton, Ga., and James Gamble of Ashburn, Ga.; and several other relatives. Mrs. Harris was preceded in death by three sons, J.S. Harris, Johnnie Harris, and Earnest Harris.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 15, 2004, at Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Broxton, Ga., with Bishop Davis officiating. Interment followed at the Broxton City Cemetery in Broxton, Ga.

Mr. Reed, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born July 7, 1934, the son of the late Mose and Henrietta Reed.

Survivors include: his wife, Geneva Reed; six children, Johnny Toombs and wife, Mary, and Odell Durham, all of Douglas, Ga., Marshall Reed, Sheila Reed, and Billy Reed, all of Broxton, Ga., and Linda Hill and husband, Fredrick, of Statesboro, Ga.; two sisters, Elizabeth Brinson and husband, James, of Broxton, Ga., and Clarice Jones of Jacksonville, Ga.; three brothers, Roosevelt Reed and wife, Alma, of Douglas, Ga., Claude Reed and wife, Valerie, of Jacksonville, Ga., and James Reed and wife, Elsie, of Kissimmee, Fla.; 18 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Mr. Reed was preceded in death by one brother, Mozzell Reed, and one sister, Mary Crockett.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Friday, May 21, 2004, at Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Broxton, Ga., with Elder Sid Whitfield officiating. Interment followed at the Crawford and Edwards Cemetery in Broxton, Ga.

Mrs. Cation, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born March 7, 1918, the daughter of the late Dempsey and Mahala Marie Daniels Lott. She was a homemaker and a member of Douglas First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include: her husband, Lloyd Cation of Douglas, Ga.; two sons, David Cation and wife, ,Michelle, of Orlando Fla., and Mike Cation and wife, Connie, of Douglas, Ga.; one brother, Dempsey Lott and wife, Tonie, of Orlando Fla; and three grandchildren, Caroline Cation of Orlando Fla., and Janet Cation and Michael Cation, both of Douglas, Ga.

Graveside services and intermenty were held Thursday, May 13, 2004, at 11 a.m. at the Douglas City Cemetery, with Rev. Benji Varnell and Curtis Harper officiating.

Mrs. Harper, a native of Coffee County, Ga., was born June 10, 1913, the daughter of the late Elisha, Sr. and Ronie Lee Corbitt Deen. She was a homemaker and a member of Mary's Chapel Church in Broxton, Ga.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, May 17, 2004, at Broxton United Methodist Church, with Rev. Elick Bullington and Rev. Aaron Kight officiating. Special music was provided by Sherry, Mark, and Elizabeth Massee who sang "It Is Well With My Soul" and "Shall We Gather At The River," a ccapella. Susan Munford provided soft piano music for the prelude and postlude. Interment followed in the Broxton City Cemetery.